Optimizing emissive and color changing projection surfaces

Abstract

A method and system for optimizing projection surfaces for generating visible images. The projection system may include a projector that emits light in the ultraviolet range and a screen in optical communication with the projector. The screen includes a visible light absorbing layer, a transparent layer positioned over the visible light absorbing layer, and a plurality of fluorescent colorants printed on the transparent layer in a predetermined pattern, where the light emitted by the projector excites the fluorescent colorants to emit visible light forming the visible images. The predetermined pattern can be optimized to increase a color gamut of the formed images by varying surface coverage ratios of the fluorescent colorants.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for utilizing a projector to generate one or more images on a screen, comprising:
 registering projector pixels emitted by the projector to the screen to determine a location of each projector pixel on the screen, wherein the screen comprises multiple pattern elements having at least two types of pattern elements; 
 classifying the projector pixels based on the type of pattern element that the projector pixels illuminate; 
 predicting an output color of an input image as projected on the screen by the projector based on the registration and classification of the projector pixels; 
 utilizing the predicted output color of the input image, modifying at least one characteristic of the input image to generate a modified input image; and 
 projecting the modified input image. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the projector emits ultra violet light; and 
 the pattern elements comprise fluorescent pigments including a first type that emits a first visible color, a second type that emits a second visible color, and a third type that emits a third visible color. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first type, the second type, and the third type cover different percentages of the screen from one another. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the pattern elements are hexagonally shaped. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein screen comprises a transparent layer and an absorptive layer, wherein the pattern elements are printed on the transparent layer. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 illuminating the screen with a uniform light by the projector; 
 capturing an illumination image of the illuminated screen with a camera; and 
 warping the illumination image to a point of view of the projector for a select projector color channel to generate a nodal image indicating a correspondence between projector pixels and the pattern elements. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 utilizing the predicted output color of the input image, modifying at least one characteristic of the pattern elements of the screen. 
 
     
     
       8. A projection method to generate images, comprising:
 determining locations of projector pixels of light emitted from a projector onto a projection surface, the projection surface including a plurality of pattern elements; 
 determining for the projector pixels a type of pattern element illuminated by the projector pixels; 
 utilizing the locations of the projector pixels and the type of pattern element illuminated by the projector pixels to predict a display appearance of an input image as projected onto the projection surface by the projector; 
 modifying the input image to generate a desired output image; and 
 projecting the modified input image onto the projection surface. 
 
     
     
       9. The projection method of  claim 8 , wherein determining the type of pattern element illuminated by the projector comprises:
 capturing a test image of a structured light pattern projected onto the projection surface by the projector; and 
 warping the test image to a point of view of the projector. 
 
     
     
       10. The projection method of  claim 8 , wherein determining the type of pattern element illuminated by the projector comprises determining a plurality of nodal images representing average values of pattern types illuminated by one or more of the projector pixels. 
     
     
       11. The projection method of  claim 8 , wherein determining locations of the projector pixels of light emitted from the projector comprises:
 projecting by the projector a plurality of structured light patterns onto the projection screen; 
 capturing by a camera a plurality of pattern images of the plurality of structured light patterns as projected onto the projection screen; and 
 mapping pixels of the plurality of pattern images to the projector pixels. 
 
     
     
       12. The projection method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of pattern elements comprise a first color pattern element, a second color pattern element, and a third color pattern element, wherein the first color pattern element, the second color pattern element, and the third color pattern element encompass different areas on the projection surface from one another.